US6079744A - Device to detect seat belt buckle status - Google Patents

Device to detect seat belt buckle status Download PDF

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Publication number
US6079744A
US6079744A US09/065,684 US6568498A US6079744A US 6079744 A US6079744 A US 6079744A US 6568498 A US6568498 A US 6568498A US 6079744 A US6079744 A US 6079744A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
seat belt
latch
sensor
buckle
magnetic field
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
US09/065,684
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English (en)
Inventor
Harald Snorre Husby
Vihang C. Patel
Ashok F. Patel
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Joyson Safety Systems Inc
Original Assignee
Breed Automotive Technology Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Breed Automotive Technology Inc filed Critical Breed Automotive Technology Inc
Priority to US09/065,684 priority Critical patent/US6079744A/en
Assigned to BREED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC. reassignment BREED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HUSBY, HARALD SNORRE, PATEL, ASHOK F., PATEL, VIHANG C.
Priority to KR10-2000-7011644A priority patent/KR100473971B1/ko
Priority to JP2000545732A priority patent/JP3598326B2/ja
Priority to DE69912415T priority patent/DE69912415T2/de
Priority to PCT/US1999/002230 priority patent/WO1999055561A1/en
Priority to EP99905642A priority patent/EP1071587B1/en
Priority to CA002324508A priority patent/CA2324508C/en
Publication of US6079744A publication Critical patent/US6079744A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Assigned to CONGRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION (FLORIDA) reassignment CONGRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION (FLORIDA) SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: BREED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Assigned to BREED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC. reassignment BREED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC. RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN TRADEMARKS Assignors: CONGRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION
Assigned to CITICORP USA, INC., AS TERM C LOAN COLLATERAL AGENT AND CITICORP USA, INC. AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT reassignment CITICORP USA, INC., AS TERM C LOAN COLLATERAL AGENT AND CITICORP USA, INC. AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Assignors: BREED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Assigned to KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC. reassignment KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: BREED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Assigned to CITICORP USA, INC. reassignment CITICORP USA, INC. SECURITY AGREEMENT Assignors: AEGIS KEY CORP, BREED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC, HAMLIN ELECTRONICS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, HAMLIN INCORPORATED, KEY ASIAN HOLDINGS, INC, KEY AUTOMOTIVE ACCESSORIES, INC, KEY AUTOMOTIVE OF FLORIDA, INC, KEY AUTOMOTIVE WEST, INC, KEY AUTOMOTIVE, LP, KEY CAYMAN GP LLC, KEY ELECTRONICS OF NEVADA, INC, KEY INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, KEY SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, INC, KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS FOREIGN HOLDCO, LLC, KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS OF TEXAS, INC, KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC, KSS ACQUISITION COMPANY, KSS HOLDINGS, INC
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01D—MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01D5/00—Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable
    • G01D5/12—Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable using electric or magnetic means
    • G01D5/14—Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable using electric or magnetic means influencing the magnitude of a current or voltage
    • G01D5/142—Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable using electric or magnetic means influencing the magnitude of a current or voltage using Hall-effect devices
    • G01D5/147—Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable using electric or magnetic means influencing the magnitude of a current or voltage using Hall-effect devices influenced by the movement of a third element, the position of Hall device and the source of magnetic field being fixed in respect to each other
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R22/00—Safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles
    • B60R22/48—Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R22/00—Safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles
    • B60R22/48—Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness
    • B60R2022/4808—Sensing means arrangements therefor
    • B60R2022/4816—Sensing means arrangements therefor for sensing locking of buckle
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T24/00—Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
    • Y10T24/45—Separable-fastener or required component thereof [e.g., projection and cavity to complete interlock]
    • Y10T24/45225—Separable-fastener or required component thereof [e.g., projection and cavity to complete interlock] including member having distinct formations and mating member selectively interlocking therewith
    • Y10T24/45602—Receiving member includes either movable connection between interlocking components or variable configuration cavity
    • Y10T24/45623—Receiving member includes either movable connection between interlocking components or variable configuration cavity and operator therefor

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to seat belts for vehicles and switches or sensors for determining if a seat belt is buckled.
  • a typical seat belt latch indicating system such as might be used in combination with an airbag deployment system, is a mechanical switch within the buckle of a seat belt combined with a resistor network.
  • the simplest resistor network has a first resistor connected in series with the switch and a second resistor connected in parallel with the switch.
  • the resistance of the switch and the resistor network changes when the switch is closed.
  • the switch because of the resistor connected in parallel across the opens leads of the switch, can be positively monitored when opened.
  • resistance falls to zero or has a resistance value substantially different from the two designed states of the switch and resistor network, it is clear that the seat belt latch detector is broken.
  • the installed seat belt environment can be a hostile one.
  • the switch may be called upon to operate even when dirty, wet, or even when coated with residue from spilled beverages.
  • the use of seat belt latch sensors to sound reminder chimes or a buzzer is sometimes perceived as annoying, and can lead those resistant to wearing safety belts to disable a seat belt latch indicator by causing the buckle to latch without engaging the hasps of the belt.
  • seat belt latching information is being used by an airbag deployment logic, the folly of disabling safety equipment can prevent the deployment logic from making the best possible decision by providing false information to the logic.
  • the seat belt buckle and latch indicating system of this invention employs a seat belt buckle that incorporates a magnetoresistive sensor and a magnet.
  • the seat belt buckle incorporates a latch which retains the seat belt hasp within the buckle.
  • the latch has three positions: unlatched, latched, and latched without the presence of an engaged hasp.
  • the latch is constructed of a ferromagnetic material, typically high strength steel, and assumes one of three positions relative to the magnetoresistive sensor and the magnet depending on which of the three positions possible for the latch.
  • the latch functions as a magnetic field concentrator with the result that the sensed magnetic field is dependent on latch position.
  • a seat belt latch sensor which provides a signal indicating the sensor is working at all times, and provides specific information based on physical positioning of the critical components of the belt that the latch is actuated and that the buckle is mated to the seat belt hasp.
  • the preferred magnetoresistive sensor is of the Giant Magnetoresistive (GMR) type.
  • FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of the seat belt buckle of this invention.
  • FIG. 2 is an cross-sectional view of the seat belt buckle of FIG. 1 in an unlatched condition, with the seat belt hasp exploded from the buckle.
  • FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the latched seat belt buckle of FIG. 1 taken along section line 3--3.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional drawing of a prior art seat belt latch.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional drawing of the prior art seat belt latch of FIG. 4 shown in a latched position.
  • FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the seat belt buckle of FIG. 1 taken along section line 6--6.
  • FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the belt buckle of FIG. 1 shown in the actuated position when a seat belt hasp is not present.
  • FIG. 8 is an isometric bottom view of an alternative embodiment seat belt buckle and sensor assembly of this invention.
  • FIG. 9 is an isometric top view of another alternative embodiment of the seat buckle and sensor assembly of this invention.
  • a seat belt buckle 20 is shown in FIGS. 1-3.
  • the seat belt buckle 20 has a body 22.
  • the body 22 has an anchor hole 24 by which the seat belt buckle 20 is attached to a structural component (not shown) of a motor vehicle (not shown).
  • the body 22 has a transverse slot 28 into which a spring-loaded latch 26 extends when a seat belt is connected to the buckle.
  • the transverse slot 28 forms the top of a T-shaped slot 30.
  • the body of the T-shaped slot 30 is formed by a longitudinal slot 32.
  • a slidable ejector 34 is captured between parallel plates of the body is restrained to slide laterally in the direction of the longitudinal slot 32. The ejector is biased by a spring 36 towards the latch 26.
  • the safety belt 40 terminates in a flat steel plate having a central hole therein which defines a seat belt hasp 38.
  • the belt 40 loops around a passenger for restrain within a motor vehicle.
  • the ejector 34 is depressed until the latch 26, under the influence of a latch spring 42, passes through the latch hole 44 in the hasp and through the transverse slot 28 in the buckle body.
  • the latch 26 extends through the hasp 38, the buckle body 22 is locked to the hasp, and the belt is secured by the buckle body to a structural component of a motor vehicle, thus positively connecting the passenger to the vehicle.
  • a magnetic field sensor 46 of the Giant Magnetoresistive (GMR) effect type is mounted to the outside surface 48 of the seat belt body 22 overlying the longitudinal slot 32.
  • a magnet 50 is mounted to the outside surface 48 of the seat belt body 22 and is located across the transverse slot 28 from the GMR sensor 46.
  • the GMR sensor 46 measures the magnetic field intensity at the location of the sensor 46.
  • the magnet 50 produces a local field which the GMR sensor 46 detects.
  • the latch 26 is constructed of high strength steel which is a ferromagnetic material.
  • the body 22 of the seat belt buckle 20 is a steel high strength stamping. In the presence of a magnetic field, such as produced by the magnet 50, ferromagnetic materials concentrate the lines of magnetic flux resulting in a magnetic field of greater strength at a greater distance from the source of the magnetic field.
  • the T-shaped slot 30, in particular the transverse slot 28, diminishes the effectiveness of the ferromagnetic seat belt buckle body 22.
  • the latch 26, by filling the transverse slot 28 with a ferromagnetic body, namely the nose 52 of the latch 26, improves the concentration of field lines which results in a greater magnetic flux being present at the sensor 46. Thus a positive indication that the hasp 38 is locked within the buckle 20 is provided.
  • the sensor 46 senses static magnetic fields.
  • the sensor is of the GMR type and utilizes an effect discovered in 1988.
  • the effect utilizes a phenomenon discovered in thin film devices that resistors built up of thin magnetic film a few nanometers thick separated by equally thin nonmagnetic layers have resistance which depends on the strength of a magnetic field applied to the resistor.
  • a decrease in resistance of between about 10 and 20 percent in the built-up resistors is observed when a magnetic field is applied.
  • the physical explanation for the decrease in resistance is the spin dependence of electron scattering and the spin polarization of conduction electrons in ferromagnetic metals.
  • the extremely thin adjacent magnetic layers couple antiferromagnetically to each other so that the magnetic moments of each magnetic layer are aligned antiparallel to adjacent magnetic layers. Electrons, spin polarized in one magnetic layer, are likely to be scattered as they move between adjacent layers. Frequent scattering results in high resistance. An external magnetic field overcomes the antiferromagnetic coupling and produces parallel alignment of moments in adjacent ferromagnetic layers. This decreases scattering and thus device resistance.
  • Groups of four resistors based on the GMR technology are arranged in a Wheatstone bridge and two legs of the bridge are shielded from the applied magnetic fields. The other two legs are positioned between the magnetic shields.
  • the magnetic shields act as flux concentrators to produce a device of tailored sensitivity to a magnetic flux of a selected intensity.
  • a standard voltage, or current is supplied to the solid state device 46, while a value relating to current or voltage is read out which is proportional to the magnetic field to which the device is exposed.
  • the devices have an axis of sensitivity which is produced by the orientation of the magnetic flux shields. In the sensor 46 this axis is aligned with the longitudinal slot 32 of the T-shaped slot 30, and passes through the magnet 50.
  • GMR sensors are available from Nonvolatile Electronics Inc. of 11409 Valley View Rd., Eden Prairie, Minn. (www.nve.com). GMR sensors are small, highly sensitive devices which have exceptional temperature stability, deliver high signal levels and require very little power and cost less than many competitive devices. All these factors are important in devices used in automobile safety applications.
  • a simple switch actuated by fastening a seat belt can be used to determine if a seat belt is latched.
  • the GMR sensor 46 however provides a qualitative indication of latching.
  • the output of the GMR sensor 46 assumes one value when the buckle 20 is not latched and another value when the hasp 38 is latched within the buckle 20.
  • the design of the seat belt buckle 20 is such that the position of the latch depends on whether a seat belt hasp 38 is locked in the buckle 20. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, if a hasp is not present the latch 26 moves further towards a gap 54 formed between the sensor 46 and the magnet 50. This results in a different value or output from the sensor 46 in situations in which the latch is engaged but no hasp is present.
  • Conventional sensors which simply detect whether a seat belt is latched can be fooled by causing the latch to move to the lock position without inserting the hasp.
  • the latch 26, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, has a nose 52 and vertical guides 56 which move in slots 58 formed in the body 22.
  • the latch 26 is biased towards the slot 28 by a leaf spring 42.
  • FIG. 4 a conventional latch 62 in a prior art buckle is shown in the unlatched position.
  • the latch 62 has vertical guides 64 which move in slots 66 formed in a conventional seat belt buckle body 68.
  • portions 70 of the latch 62 engage against an inner plate 72 so that the travel of the latch 62 is limited by the plate 72.
  • a hasp 74 positioned between the body 68 and the plate 72 does not affect the position assumed by the latch 62 when it is latched.
  • FIGS. 1-3 and 6-7 While it is within the scope of the disclosed invention to employ a magnetic field sensor with a conventional seat belt buckle, such as the one illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the preferred embodiment as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 and 6-7 employs a latch 26 which has a face 76 which extends on either side of the nose 52. The face 76 abuts the hasp 38 when the buckle 20 is latched, as shown in FIG. 6.
  • the inner plate 78 has an opening 80 which allows the face 76 of the latch 26 to move towards the body 22. If the seat belt buckle 20 is caused to be latched without the presence of the hasp 38 as illustrated in FIG. 7, the face 76 engages against the inner surface 82 of the body 22.
  • This positioning of the latch 26 with the nose 52 extending above the outer surface 48 of the body 22 towards the gap 54 between the magnet 50 and the sensor 46 produces a distinct signal which allows a microprocessor (not shown) to consider the actual state of the seat belt buckle 20 and whether it is securely mated to the seat belt hasp 38.
  • the microprocessor will typically be connected to other sensors (not shown) including shock sensors for detecting a crash and will deploy or not deploy an airbag (not shown) based on logic which considers all sensor inputs.
  • FIG. 8 An alternative embodiment seat belt buckle 84 is shown in FIG. 8.
  • the seat belt buckle 84 has a body 86 similar to the body shown in FIG. 1, except that an opening 88 is formed adjacent to and continuous with a transverse slot 90.
  • a sensor housing 92 is positioned in the opening 88.
  • the sensor housing 92 incorporates a GMR sensor 95 on a circuit board 94 and a magnet 96 spaced a short distance from the GMR sensor 95.
  • the GMR sensor 95 and the magnet 96 are positioned so that when the hasp 98 is engaged with the buckle 84 both the magnet 96 and the GMR sensor 95 engage or are closely spaced from the hasp 98. In this way the GMR sensor 95 directly detects the presence of the hasp 98.
  • the motion of the latch 100 through the transverse slot 90 is also sufficiently close to the gap between the magnet 96 and the GMR sensor that the presence of the latch 100 can also be directly sensed.
  • a conventional buckle with a two-position motion of the latch 100 as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, can be employed.
  • FIG. 9 Another alternative embodiment seat belt buckle and sensor assembly 102 is shown in FIG. 9.
  • This embodiment uses the three-step motion illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7.
  • the device 102 has a GMR sensor package 104 which contains a magnet 106 and a GMR sensor 108 which is positioned behind the latch 110.
  • the ferromagnetic latch 110 moves into and out of a gap 112 between the sensor 108 and the magnet 106.
  • the displacement of the latch 110 away from the gap 112 results in decreased magnetic field strength at the sensor 108.
  • the three states unlatched, latched with hasp present, shown in FIG. 6, and latched with hasp not present, shown in FIG. 7, can be differentiated.
  • GMR sensor can be used with a reference voltage or current
  • the change in resistance of one or more GMR resistances can be determined directly with a circuit which functions as an ohmmeter.
  • the gap between the GMR sensor and the magnet reduces the magnetic field strength sensed by the GMR sensor and that movement of a component of the seat belt buckle towards or away from, the gap is hereby defined as movement with respect to the magnet and the sensor which changes the sensed magnetic field.
  • This movement may generally be a motion which physically fills the gap with a ferromagnetic body such that lines of magnetic flux are concentrated and thus the sensor reads a higher magnetic field.
  • the reverse action of removing a ferromagnetic body from the gap will reduce the magnetic field read by the sensor.
  • Such motions could include removal of a magnetic shunt, and motion of some part of a component towards and some part away from the physical gap.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Buckles (AREA)
  • Automotive Seat Belt Assembly (AREA)
US09/065,684 1998-04-24 1998-04-24 Device to detect seat belt buckle status Expired - Fee Related US6079744A (en)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/065,684 US6079744A (en) 1998-04-24 1998-04-24 Device to detect seat belt buckle status
CA002324508A CA2324508C (en) 1998-04-24 1999-02-02 Device to detect seat belt buckle status
JP2000545732A JP3598326B2 (ja) 1998-04-24 1999-02-02 シートベルトバックルの状態を検知する装置
DE69912415T DE69912415T2 (de) 1998-04-24 1999-02-02 Vorrichtung zum erkennen eines gurtschlosszustands
PCT/US1999/002230 WO1999055561A1 (en) 1998-04-24 1999-02-02 Device to detect seat belt buckle status
EP99905642A EP1071587B1 (en) 1998-04-24 1999-02-02 Device to detect seat belt buckle status
KR10-2000-7011644A KR100473971B1 (ko) 1998-04-24 1999-02-02 시트 벨트 버클 및 래치 표시기 센서

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/065,684 US6079744A (en) 1998-04-24 1998-04-24 Device to detect seat belt buckle status

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US6079744A true US6079744A (en) 2000-06-27

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US09/065,684 Expired - Fee Related US6079744A (en) 1998-04-24 1998-04-24 Device to detect seat belt buckle status

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US6079744A (ko)
EP (1) EP1071587B1 (ko)
JP (1) JP3598326B2 (ko)
KR (1) KR100473971B1 (ko)
CA (1) CA2324508C (ko)
DE (1) DE69912415T2 (ko)
WO (1) WO1999055561A1 (ko)

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US6381815B1 (en) * 1999-09-21 2002-05-07 Takata Corporation Buckle with non-contact switch
US6389661B1 (en) * 2000-05-25 2002-05-21 Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc. Latch sensing seatbelt buckle
US6400145B1 (en) 2000-05-04 2002-06-04 Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. Seat belt tension sensor, methods of integration and attachment
US6419199B1 (en) * 1998-07-07 2002-07-16 Trw Automotive Electronics & Components Gmbh & Co. Kg Device for monitoring a locked condition of locking and support components of a connecting device for fixing a child seat in a motor vehicle
US6448907B1 (en) 2002-01-18 2002-09-10 Nicholas J. Naclerio Airline passenger management system
EP1295765A2 (de) 2001-09-21 2003-03-26 Robert Bosch Gmbh Vorrichtung zur Gurtkraft- und Gurtbenutzungserkennung
US6572148B2 (en) * 2000-05-30 2003-06-03 Autoliv Development Ab Seat belt security system having a measurement device for determining a seat belt pulling force
US6619753B2 (en) 2000-10-11 2003-09-16 Evenflo Company, Inc. Car seat having buckle with visual feedback
US6742229B2 (en) * 2000-02-18 2004-06-01 Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho Buckle device
US20040111846A1 (en) * 2002-09-27 2004-06-17 Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho Buckle device
US20040140890A1 (en) * 2002-11-27 2004-07-22 Robert Hartmann Device for interrogating the locked condition of a vehicle safety belt buckle
US6819233B2 (en) 2001-08-13 2004-11-16 Alan L. Beaty Prisoner escape seat belt detection and alert system
US20040239515A1 (en) * 2001-06-02 2004-12-02 Reiner Marchthaler Device for classifying the seat occupancy in a motor vehicle
US20050092546A1 (en) * 2003-11-04 2005-05-05 Hsu Samuel W. Safety belt device having warning device
US6889408B2 (en) * 2001-10-29 2005-05-10 Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho Buckle apparatus
US6965231B1 (en) 2003-10-31 2005-11-15 Fonar Corporation Belt buckle and use thereof in magnetic resonance imaging
US20060061201A1 (en) * 2004-09-21 2006-03-23 Skinner Charles W Seat belt restraint and alarm system and method of use thereof
US20070138218A1 (en) * 2005-12-16 2007-06-21 Ryan Calilung Child carriers and methods for operating the same
DE102007063038A1 (de) 2007-09-04 2009-03-05 Hyundai Motor Co. System und Verfahren zum Detektieren, ob ein Anschnallgurt getragen wird
US20090261568A1 (en) * 2008-04-22 2009-10-22 Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. Vehicular seatbelt restraint with selectively disabled inertia reel assembly
US20120104826A1 (en) * 2010-09-15 2012-05-03 Amsafe Commercial Products, Inc. Occupant restraint system components having status indicators and/or media interfaces, and associated methods of use and manufacture
US20130038101A1 (en) * 2010-02-10 2013-02-14 Mark J. Friedman Locking harness
US20150082587A1 (en) * 2013-09-25 2015-03-26 Polycontact Ag Seat belt lock with hall sensor
US9781977B2 (en) 2015-08-11 2017-10-10 Shield Restraint Systems, Inc. Interlocking web connectors for occupant restraint systems and associated methods of use and manufacture
US10264895B2 (en) 2017-02-22 2019-04-23 Kolcraft Enterprises, Inc. Adjustable child carriers
US10357083B2 (en) 2016-09-16 2019-07-23 Shield Restraint Systems, Inc. Buckle assemblies and associated systems and methods for use with child seats and other restraint systems
US20190241151A1 (en) * 2018-02-07 2019-08-08 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Seatbelt assembly
US10857916B2 (en) * 2017-04-13 2020-12-08 Chad Glerum Seat belt tension indicator
US11124152B2 (en) 2018-11-20 2021-09-21 Shield Restraint Systems, Inc. Buckle assemblies for use with child seats and other personal restraint systems

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DE102004011299A1 (de) 2004-03-09 2005-10-06 Hirschmann Automotive Gmbh Gurtschlossschalter
JP5207227B2 (ja) * 2007-09-26 2013-06-12 勲 湯浅 コラーゲン産生促進剤
CA3207301A1 (en) * 2021-02-03 2022-08-11 Andre BEZANSON Magnetic release mechanism

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CA2324508A1 (en) 1999-11-04
DE69912415D1 (de) 2003-12-04
JP3598326B2 (ja) 2004-12-08
WO1999055561A1 (en) 1999-11-04
EP1071587A1 (en) 2001-01-31
KR100473971B1 (ko) 2005-03-07
CA2324508C (en) 2006-04-11
JP2002512918A (ja) 2002-05-08
KR20010042870A (ko) 2001-05-25
EP1071587B1 (en) 2003-10-29
DE69912415T2 (de) 2004-07-22

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